1991 Elephant Hawk Moth Delilephila elpenor
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Family: Sphingidae: Macroglossinae
Wingspan: Approximately 70mm wingspan
Distribution: Found throughout most of England, Wales and Ireland. In Scotland they are mainly found in the south and west.
Months seen: May to July. Caterpillars are seen from July to September.
Habitat: Gardens, woodland clearings. and waste ground
Food: Nectar Flowers such as honeysuckle (Lonicera) The caterpillars feed on bedstraws and willowherbs.
The large elephant hawk-moth is one of our more brightly coloured moths. It gets its name from the caterpillar which has a trunk-like snout.When it feels threatened it draws this snout in, towards its body. This has the effect of inflating its head, which features four large eye markings.When the caterpillar is fully grown it moves down to the ground to pupate. It remains in it's cocoon until next spring (around May) when it emerges as an adult moth.
